How do I arrange a care needs assessment for someone in Ashton-under-lyne?

Contact Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council's adult social care team and request a needs assessment, which is free and open to anyone who appears to need support. A social worker or assessor will arrange to speak with the person, usually at home, and will look at daily tasks, health, safety, and social needs. The outcome is written up and used to decide what level of care is appropriate, including whether a residential home is the best option. Family members and carers can be present, and it helps to make notes beforehand about difficulties and routines.

Can Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council pay for a care home placement?

Yes, the council can contribute towards care home fees, but this depends on both a needs assessment and a financial assessment. The financial test looks at savings, income, and in most cases the value of a property, and there are national thresholds that decide how much someone must pay themselves. If assets fall below the lower threshold, the council pays the majority of fees, though the person still contributes from income such as pensions. Anyone above the upper threshold is a self-funder and arranges the placement privately.

Which providers offer residential care in Ashton-under-lyne?

Care Assura lists four residential care homes serving Ashton-under-lyne: Hurst Hall, Clarkson House Residential Care Home, Daisy Nook House, and Sandon House. All four currently hold a Good rating from the Care Quality Commission. Each home has its own character, size, and specialisms, so it is worth reading their individual profiles and visiting in person. Availability changes regularly, so contact the homes directly to check whether they have a room.

What is the difference between a residential care home and a nursing home?

A residential care home supports people with personal care such as washing, dressing, medication prompts, meals, and social activities, delivered by trained care staff. A nursing home offers all of that plus round the clock support from qualified nurses, which is needed for more complex medical conditions or advanced frailty. The care needs assessment will usually indicate which type of setting is appropriate. All four homes listed for Ashton-under-lyne on Care Assura are residential rather than nursing.

What questions should I ask when visiting a care home in Ashton-under-lyne?

Ask about staff to resident ratios during the day and at night, how care plans are written and reviewed, and how the home communicates with families. Find out what activities are on offer, how mealtimes work, and whether residents can personalise their rooms. It is also sensible to ask about fee increases, what triggers a move to nursing care, and how the home handles complaints. Trust your instincts about atmosphere and the way staff interact with the people who already live there.

How far in advance should we start looking for a care home?

Where possible, begin exploring options a few months before a move is likely to be needed, as this gives time to visit several homes and gather information calmly. In practice many placements are arranged quickly after a hospital stay or a sudden decline at home, so it helps to have a shortlist ready. Waiting lists at popular homes can be several weeks or longer, and preferred room types may not always be available. Speaking to the council early also helps get the assessment and funding decisions moving.

Care Homes in Ashton-under-lyne

Ashton-under-lyne has 5 CQC registered care homes. 5 are rated Good. 4 of the 5 were last inspected more than three years ago.

Source: Care Quality Commission register, kept up to date as ratings change.

Ashton-under-lyne at a glance

What the local numbers say about care for older people in Ashton-under-lyne, to help you judge the options below.

Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council pays, residential care: £809 a week. Self-funders are typically asked £1,249 to £1,514, median £1,409
Care home beds filled across Tameside: 94%. The 12 month average is 92%.
Care home beds per 1,000 people aged 75+: 86
People aged 75 and over: 20,500. Rising to 22,500 by 2035, up 10%
Care homes, last 12 months: 0 opened, 0 closed. 13 changed owner, covering 507 beds.
Who pays, across Tameside (estimate): 47% council, 26% self. The rest is NHS funded or other.
Living with dementia, aged 65 and over (estimate): 2,600. Rising to 3,100 by 2035, up 19%
People aged 85 and over: 4,800. Rising to 6,800 by 2035, up 41%

Powered by Orrery Intelligence. Market model built 22 October 2026 (ONS 2022 based population projections, CQC register), published care home prices, council planning records.

Arranging and funding a care home place in Ashton-under-lyne

Before choosing a residential setting, most families begin with a proper look at what the person actually needs day to day. This is where the local authority steps in, offering a structured way to work out the level of support required and how it might be paid for.

Starting with a care needs assessment

A care needs assessment is a free conversation with a social worker who looks at daily routines, health conditions, mobility, and any risks at home. You can request one through Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council Adult Social Care, which handles adult social care for people living in Ashton-under-lyne. The assessment produces a written summary of needs, and this becomes the starting point for deciding whether residential care is the right route.

Financial support from the council

Once needs are agreed, Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council will carry out a means test that looks at savings, income, and property. If capital sits below the national threshold, the council contributes towards fees, though most people will still pay something from their pension or other income. Those with assets above the upper limit are treated as self-funders and arrange the placement directly with the home.

What a residential place typically costs

Fees vary depending on the home, the room type, and the complexity of care. In the North West, residential care commonly falls between around eight hundred and twelve hundred pounds a week, with premium rooms priced higher. Always ask each home for a written fee schedule and check what is included, such as chiropody, hairdressing, or trips out.

Choosing the right residential care home in Ashton-under-lyne

Care Assura currently lists four residential care homes in Ashton-under-lyne: Hurst Hall, Clarkson House Residential Care Home, Daisy Nook House, and Sandon House. All four hold a Good rating from the Care Quality Commission, which is a reassuring starting point when drawing up a shortlist.

Reading the CQC reports properly

An overall Good rating covers five separate areas: safe, effective, caring, responsive, and well-led. Read the full report rather than just the headline grade, as it will highlight strengths and any areas the service was asked to improve. Reports also give a sense of how the home responds to feedback and manages medication, staffing, and activities.

Visiting and comparing homes

Nothing replaces walking through the door. Notice how staff speak to residents, whether communal areas feel lived in, and how mealtimes are handled. Ask to see a bedroom that is actually available, meet the manager if possible, and try to visit at different times of day to get a rounded picture before committing.

5 care homes in Ashton-under-lyne

Daisy Nook House · Ashton-under-lyne, Tameside · CQC Good
Sandon House · Ashton-under-lyne, Tameside · CQC Good
Clarkson House Residential Care Home · Ashton-under-lyne, Tameside · CQC Good
Hurst Hall · Ashton-under-lyne, Tameside · CQC Good
Sandon House · Ashton-under-lyne, Tameside · CQC Good

What care costs in Tameside, per week

Type of care	What the council pays	What self-funders are typically asked
Residential care North West figure, because too few Tameside homes publish this price. 20 homes. Median £1,409.	£809	£1,249 to £1,514
Nursing care England figure, because too few Tameside homes publish this price. 140 homes. Median £1,916.	£1,058	£1,600 to £2,071
Residential dementia care North West figure, because too few Tameside homes publish this price. 17 homes. Median £1,533.	Not published separately	£1,372 to £1,648
Nursing dementia care England figure, because too few Tameside homes publish this price. 75 homes. Median £2,050.	Not published separately	£1,890 to £2,221

Published prices are often starting prices, and come from homes that publish fees, so treat them as a guide. Ask the home for its own price. Powered by Orrery Intelligence.

Inspected most recently

Clarkson House Residential Care Home, 8 July 2025, Good
Sandon House, 15 December 2022, Good
Sandon House, 15 December 2022, Good

Longest since a report

Hurst Hall, 3 September 2019, Good
Daisy Nook House, 18 November 2022, Good
Sandon House, 15 December 2022, Good

Frequently asked questions about care homes in Ashton-under-lyne

How many care homes are there in Ashton-under-lyne?

Ashton-under-lyne has 5 CQC registered care homes: 5 Good. Counts come from the CQC register and are kept up to date as ratings change.

How much does a care home cost in Ashton-under-lyne?

Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council pays an average of £809 a week for residential care. Self-funders are typically asked £1,249 to £1,514 a week. North West figure, because too few Tameside homes publish this price. 20 homes. Median £1,409. Published prices are often starting prices, and come from homes that publish fees, so treat them as a guide. Ask the home for its own price.

Which care homes in Ashton-under-lyne were inspected most recently?

Clarkson House Residential Care Home (8 July 2025), Sandon House (15 December 2022) and Sandon House (15 December 2022) have the most recent CQC reports.

Local care news in Tameside

5 changes in care across Tameside this week (5 November 2026)

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